Agriculture is at the heart of our company’s wine and spirits brands. We rely on farms for our raw ingredients – grapes for wine, agave for tequila, and grains for spirits. We depend on forestry for the wood from which we produce the barrels that are essential for maturing whiskey and agave, and the charcoal that we use to filter some of our spirits.
Our Approach
We are conscious that farming practices can have an impact on the richness of biological life (biodiversity) and water quality in rivers, lakes and aquifers, as well as the quality of our soil and air. This is why we promote sustainable farming. See also Water and Waste.
The bulk of our raw materials – grains and grapes – are bought from other growers or on the commodities market. Creating change in the market can only happen by cooperating with others.
Actions
There is much work being done to reach a universally acceptable definition of sustainable agriculture. Food producers, crop protection companies, the agricultural community, and conservation organizations are working together to produce common guidelines – a process that we support.
Dr. Ann Thrupp, Sustainability Manager at Fetzer Vineyards, is a member of the National Research Council’s Committee on 21st Century Systems Agriculture. Operating as part of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the Committee will produce a groundbreaking study that could lead to increasing environmental awareness and understanding, and the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices worldwide.
Our Vineyards
We are determined to contribute to the development of sustainable agriculture systems. For example, Fetzer Vineyards and Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards, are participating in the Sustainable Wine Growing program that was started in California in 2001 by the winegrowing members of The Wine Institute and the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. The program promotes vineyard and winery practices that are sensitive to the environment, responsive to the needs and interests of society, and economically feasible to implement and maintain.
Participants self-assess their vineyards and wineries and voluntarily contribute data to measure the extent to which sustainable practices are being adopted. We are taking part in a pilot certification program that would increase recognition of this process with consumers and others.
Fetzer Vineyards participates in the Fish Friendly Farming initiative which promotes farming practices that protect the quality of rivers and lakes.
We farm more than 1,000 acres according to certified organic standards in Mendocino County in California, where we produce the grapes used in our Bonterra Wines. Bonterra is the largest brand of wine made from organic grapes available in the U.S. We are working with our business partner Korbel to develop the first California sparkling wine made from organic grapes by a major producer. The principal guidelines for organic production are to use materials and practices that enhance the ecological balance of natural systems and that integrate the parts of the farming system into an ecological whole.
Our Agave Farms
Near Guadalajara, in the western Mexican state of Jalisco, we grow agave plants to supply our tequila distillery. As with our wineries, we also buy raw ingredients from other growers to supplement our own.
Since we purchased the Casa Herradura family of brands in 2007, we have been working to improve the growing practices and conducting research into agave. In 2008, the region was hit by an agave blight which ruined some of the crop and created considerable losses. This unfortunate incident demonstrates how closely we are connected to agriculture, and how important it is for us to work with others to promote sustainable agriculture.
Promoting Healthy Foods
In 2008, we again sponsored the Healthy Food, Local Farms conference held in Louisville, Kentucky. The conference is addressed each year by well-known luminaries such as Wendell Berry and food campaigners, such as Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation. The conference builds awareness, shares experiences and encourages action on the source of our food, how it is grown or raised, and what it means to eat well. Farmers, educators, environmentalists, political leaders, students, and citizens are brought together by the conference.
We support the Soil Association, a U.K.-based organic farm certification organization. In addition, one of our employees is a board member of the Organic Farming Research Association.
Genetically Modified Products
We continue to study the use of genetically modified (GM) products in the crafting of our spirits and wine brands. While we will continue to use non-GM corn at most of our distilleries, the steady decrease of an adequate supply of high quality non-GM corn that meets our rigorous standards has led us to the decision to use GM corn in the fall of 2009 for some of our distilling.
Read Our Philosophy Regarding the Use of Genetically Modified Organisms and let us know your views by completing the feedback form.